The National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking (NAPTIP) has warned the public against sharing videos of minors who are victims of sexual abuse.
According to a statement released by the agency, such act is a violation of the minors’ rights and attracts a jail sentence of 5 years and N1m fine.
NAPTIP noted that the procurement, recruitment, use or offer of a person under the age of 18 for production of pornography or pornographic performances is an offence under Section 17 (a) of the Act.
The statement made reference to a viral video showing a 6-year-old female minor who was sexually abused. NAPTIP however confirmed that the suspects involved in the case have been arrested for proper Investigation and prosecution.
The statement reads,
GENERAL NOTICE
The National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking IN PERSONS (NAPTIP) hereby appeal to the General Public and particularly Social Media Users to desist from spreading videos of minors been sexually abused as this is a violation of their human rights. PURSUANT TO Section 13(4)(c) of The Trafficking in Persons (Prohibition) Enforcement and Administration Act (TIPPEA ) 2015, anyone who assists or facilitates the activities of persons engaged in acts of Trafficking in Persons or is an accessory to any offence under the Act commits an offence under the Act and is liable on conviction to a term of imprisonment of not less than 5 years and a fine of not less than N1,000,000.00k.
The procurement, recruitment, use or offer of a person under the age of 18 for production of pornography or pornographic performances is an offence under Section 17 (a) of the Act. Hence further circulation of any pornographic videos of anyone under 18 is tantamount to facilitating the activities of the producers of such videos.
A case in point is a new Video that has gone viral on social media showing a 6 year old female minor who was being sexually abused. The Victim in question has been rescued from exploitative situation by NAPTIP and the Suspects have been arrested for proper Investigation and prosecution.
The essence of this publication is to warn the General Public and particularly Social Media Users to desist from spreading such Videos as NAPTIP shall not hesitate to investigate and arrest defaulters for possible prosecution.
Please be warned.
NAPTIP
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Please let’s be guided by the above so that we stop forwarding such with the picture of the child. If you want forward, please try and shield the face of the survivor.
